The runway extension project at St. Croix’s Henry E. Rohlsen Airport is set to resume at the end of June, more than three months after it was halted because it was affecting the health of nearby residents.
The V.I. Port Authority voluntarily stopped the project, which will lengthen the runway from 7,600 feet to 10,000 feet, on March 23 after residents of Yellow Cedar complained about the choking clouds of dust stirred up by construction equipment.
The Port Authority has said it always intended to pay to relocate the residents permanently once the runway was completed, because the sound level produced by increased air traffic would exceed federal standards. The adverse effects from the construction, however, had not been foreseen.
Ninety percent of the relocation costs, and a large portion of the runway expansion as well, are to be be financed by federal discretionary funds, and Port Authority officials feared too long a delay would affect the funding.
"I am pleased to inform the public that the Port Authority has reached an amicable agreement with the residents of Yellow Cedar and that the extension of the runway . . . will resume on June 21 or shortly thereafter," said Port Authority executive director Gordon A. Finch on Tuesday.
Residents of households that are close to where heavy earthwork will be done are to be relocated on a 90-day temporary basis, Finch said.
The Port Authority plans to purchase 31 properties altogether and to move their residents to permanent housing. Twenty-five of the 31 properties contain dwellings housing 65 families.
The buyout plan has two phases. The first — two appraisals for each property — has been completed and the agency is now in negotiation with the property owners and residents to agree on a final price.
Meanwhile, Finch said, in addition to the temporary relocations the Port Authority will begin using more water and topsoil to control the dust, and will work with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources to monitor the construction site. The $18-million project is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2001. The first phase is expected to be finished in November.
An expanded runway that could accommodate the larger, long-range aircraft operated by major airlines and charter operations has been on the drawing board for years. Once completed, it will allow nonstop turnaround service to the V.I. from Europe, North America and South America.

Efforts to find a way around the Department of Education’s decree that it will charge public school students for bus transportation will take place Wednesday, the last day of Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen’s self-imposed deadline for the government to rescind the proposal or face a lawsuit.
Lost in the uproar of whether to charge $5 a week for elementary students and $10 for secondary school students for busing is the V.I. Code, which addresses the issue. In 1964 a law was passed that says the commissioner of Education, with the approval of the governor, "shall prescribe rules and regulations covering free transportation of school children…"
"It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Government of the Virgin Islands to provide free transportation for school-age children, residing within and without the urban areas of the Virgin Islands, to the schools which they attend," the code states.
Despite that, Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds has said her proposal is legal and that by law the department can have students pay for bus service and school lunches. Calls to Simmonds, Education’s legal counsel Tregenza Roach and spokeswoman June Archibald were not returned Tuesday.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Norman Jn Baptiste’s legal researcher, Cletus Emmanuel, however, said the V.I. Code makes it clear that free busing is a right and not a privilege. He said the law hasn’t been amended since it was passed in 1964.
"The operative word there is free," Emmanuel said. "Free is free. It means there is no exchange."
Simmonds has acknowledged that while the fees to be charged next year for school bus transportation may be hard for some families, without the fees there might not be bus service at all. She added that the department can no longer afford the $5 million a year it pays bus companies to provide transportation. The fee would supplement that cost, she said.
Hansen opposes any charge. On Tuesday she restated her threat to file a class-action lawsuit against the government if the proposal isn’t dropped by midnight Wednesday.
"This fee is an illegal fee. The commissioner has one more day" to rescind it, Hansen said. "Then we will have no other choice . . . but to enter into court the following day."
Baptiste, meanwhile, has called a meeting of senators and education officials for Wednesday morning to seek alternative ways to fund bus transportation. He said federal and local funding sources will be examined as a way to avoid having to implement Simmonds’ proposal.

Senators got some answers on the status of the territory's Y2K compliance funding at Tuesday's Finance Committee meeting — although some of those answers were incomplete.
Testifying before the committee were Ira Mills, Office of Management and Budget director; Bernice Turnbull, Finance commissioner; and Roy McFarlane, special assistant to the governor for information technology.
The status of the Indirect Cost Fund was also on the agenda.
McFarlane told the senators he was there "to assure" them that Y2K funds had been used for rebuilding and for "the technological infrastructure of the government." He said $28.1 million was provided through two Y2K loans — one from Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and IBM Corp. and the other from the Roosevelt & Cross financial institution.
Under questioning from committee chair Lorraine Berry, McFarlane gave a breakdown of how a $16.1 million federal Y2K grant was expended. He said the money was reimbursement for funds previously spent on Y2K projects, not an additional sum to be spent.
To date, McFarlane said, $9.8 million has been drawn down from the federal grant allotment to "critical" agencies. He said the money has gone to the Roy L. Schneider and Juan F. Luis Hospitals; the Health, Finance and Justice Departments; the Internal Revenue Bureau; and Police 911 services. According to Turnbull, $7.4 million of the $9.8 million has been received from the federal government, with the remaining $2.4 million expected.
Berry asked how much had been drawn down from the $31.1 million the Legislature authorized for Y2K compliance. McFarlane said $11.7 million has been drawn from the Banco Popular/IBM fund, and $6.9 million from Roosevelt & Cross. Berry reminded the administration representatives that while the allocation was for $31.1 million, if they spend more than $21.1 million, they are mandated to go back to the Legislature to request an additional sum.
Sen. David Jones asked how much has been paid out of these funds. Turnbull said, "$20.3 million in actual expenditures."
Sen. George Goodwin asked if all agencies are Y2K compliant now. McFarlane replied that both hospitals and the Health Department are 95 percent compliant. Goodwin, appearing vexed, reminded the testifiers that the Senate had "been rushed" last year to get the appropriations. He demanded to know why the delay in expending the funds.
Turnbull said the Finance Department "didn't know the needs at the time" and that the "software had been slow in coming."
Sens. Violet Anne Golden and Gregory Bennerson asked whether the computers purchased came from local vendors or off-island. Turnbull said five contractors were local and four were not.
Under questioning by Sens. Roosevelt David and Berry about the Indirect Cost Fund, Turnbull said she was still awaiting figures from several departments, but that the fund had approximately $7 million as of December 1999.
She said she is in the process of reconciling the account because there are five outstanding amounts against the fund from different agencies. To David's query as to how the balances could change so much, Turnbull replied, "Balances are moving targets. They get updated all the time."
Berry requested balance updates by June 20, saying the Senate needs current information so that it does not pass "phantom" legislation. She also requested an accounting by Friday of all computers purchased for Y2K compliance and the amounts paid for them.
Berry also requested an update on government vendor payments and tax refunds. Mills said vendor payments stand at about $60 million. Requests for payment "keep coming in," he said. "Once current payments were annnounced, everybody came to the trough."
He said Internal Revenue Bureau director Claudette Farrington had told him that about 95 percent of the tax refunds owed from 1998 and before had been paid, but the figures doesn't include 1999 refunds.
In other action, the committee approved a federal grant application for the Planning and Natural Resources Department and an appropriation transfer from the Office of Management and Budget.
Hollis Griffin, PNR director of environmental protection, said the federal grant in the amount of $54,602 would be used to develop an air quality monitoring program in the territory. The grant is for "particulate matter monitoring," something that has never been done before in the territory.
Griffin said no local funding has ever been available for this monitoring, and that with the grant, the Virgin Islands can continue to conduct monitoring as is federally required. He said there are particulate matter monitoring stations on the roofs of Fort Christian and the Port Authority building at Cyril E. King Airport, as well as on St. Croix.
Mills requested an appropriation transfer of $51,000 because, he said, the salary for special assistant to the director was "inadvertently" added as a "classified," instead of "unclassified," line item.
The appropriation measure was approved unanimously. The grant was approved by Sens. Berry, Bennerson, David, Golden and Jones, with Goodwin casting the only "no" vote.

V.I. Tourism Department has again posted this winter's cruise ship schedule on line.
Click on www.ships.vi for complete day by day details. The schedule is possible through cooperation of the West Indian Company, V.I. Port Authority, St. Croix Port Services, Merwin Shipping, the various cruise lines and the Department of Tourism. COBEX Internet Services was singled out by Acting Commissioner Michael A. Bornn for their assistance in programming this season's schedule.

A federal judge last week issued the Department of Public Works a final deadline to bring its St. Croix wastewater system into compliance – or else.
On May 30 District Court Judge Thomas Moore made final an April 28 draft order that directed the V.I. and federal governments to respond to numerous proposed deadlines concerning the Big Island’s problem-plagued sewage system. Essentially, the two parties agreed that Public Works has until the end of June to bring the system into compliance or local officials could face contempt of court hearings.
In his May 30 order, Moore said that past government excuses such as a lack of funding will not be accepted as reasons for missing deadlines "absent extraordinary circumstances."
"Failure by the government to comply with these deadlines, which the government has agreed to through its response, will result in contempt hearings . . . with the possible penalty ranging from fines to incarceration for the appropriate officials, including members of the Public Finance Authority and the Department of Finance, whose actions or lack of action are found to have impeded the progress of these crucial repairs," wrote Moore.
Public Works must have two aspects of its wastewater treatment plant fully operational by June 9 and another by June 23.
Meanwhile, the Figtree Pump Station, which was spilling more than 1.5 million gallons of raw sewage into the Caribbean Sea up to May 20, must be in full operation by June 30. The Figtree station discharges were to have been stopped on May 8, but problems with obtaining replacement parts caused Public Works to miss that tentative deadline.
Also by June 30 the LBJ Pump Station must have a number of fixes made, including all three of its pumps in operation.
Many of the problems with territory’s wastewater system date back to 1984, when a consent decree was entered into by the federal and local governments. In 1996 problems were again addressed in an amendment to the consent decree. But because of the ongoing illegal discharges on St. Croix, Moore issued yet another order in February setting specific dates for Public Works to make repairs.
For the most part, those dates were missed and continued problems at the Figtree Pump Station just east of the HOVENSA refinery caused millions of gallons of raw sewage a day to be discharged into the sea.
Public Works Commissioner Harold Thompson Jr. didn’t immediately return calls Tuesday afternoon.
Additionally, Moore called for 24-hour monitoring of the pump stations using remote telemetry systems that are already in place but not always functional. Repairs to the telemetry system must be completed by June 30.
Citing his February order, Moore again called on Public Works to notify the court of any additional bypasses anywhere in the territory, not just St. Croix.
"To the extent that this has not been done since Feb. 12, the government shall bring its bypass notices current for St. Thomas, St. John, and Water Island with its June 8 weekly report, and keep those notices current thereafter," wrote Moore.

There are several reasons those enamored of — or curious about — classical music may want to take in the Rossini Quartet performance at the Reichhold Center for the Arts Wednesday evening.
First, string quartets are not a dime a dozen on St. Thomas. Even the Classics in the Garden Series has had only one in its 13 years (the Canadian St. Lawrence String Quartet, in 1996).
Second, this particular quartet does not consist, as do most, of two violins, viola and cello Rather, it comprises two violins, cello and double bass.
Third, the music the ensemble will perform was written by the composer for whom the quartet is named — Gioacchino Rossini. And he wrote it in 1804 at the age of 12 in the space of three days for the four instruments represented.
Fourth, this performance has a unique place in the annals of classical music in the Virgin Islands. It is an official part of the 44th Casals Festival — which otherwise takes place this year, as it always has done, in San Juan. A joint presentation of Festival Casals and the St. Thomas-based Birch Forum, it came about mainly because a member of the Birch Forum board, Ricardo Charaff, and his wife have close ties to Puerto Rico's classical music movers and shakers. (They also were instrumental in arranging for the Birch Forum to transport most of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra to the Reichhold Center last fall.)
Wednesday's program will consist of Rossini's Six Sonatas for Two Violins, Cello and Double Bass, written on commission for a young Italian merchant named Agostino Triossi. Keep in mind that in 1804, this was the popular music of Italy's educated classes. Incongruous as it may seem, the project was in many ways comparable to a precocious pre-teen electric guitarist hanging on a holiday weekend with some folks not a lot older than he and putting in some intense hours to crank out six cuts for a CD.
Reminiscing years later about the accomplishment, Rossini said the sonatas were played doggedly by Triossi on bass, one of his cousins on first violin, another cousin on cello and Rossini himself — the most musically adept of the four — on second violin.
Rossini, of course, went on to bigger and better things, at least for a while. Born in 1792, he moved in his 20s to Paris, where he became a favorite of the court — until the king was ousted in a French revolution. He returned to Italy but 18 years later moved back to Paris, where he died in 1868. He made his mark, of course, as a composer of operas — although he stopped writing them at the age of 37. Far and away his most famous opera is "The Barber of Seville." Others include "William Tell" (the overture of which has been emblazoned on our brains as the theme of "The Lone Ranger" radio and television series and a perennial part of the Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra repertoire), "Otello," "Tancredi," "La Cenerentola" and "The Thieving Magpie."
The six Rossini sonatas have been compared to works by another child prodigy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Whether the six pieces — in order, in G Major, A Major, C Major, B-flat Major, E-flat Major and D Major — were intended to be performed in sequence at a single sitting is anybody's guess, but they do build in intensity. The first three have a standard mix of allegro, andante and moderato movements; the fourth and fifth have more lively allegro vivace sections, and the sixth opens with an allego spiritoso and concludes with a movement called "Tempesta" that is "heralded by brief flashes of lightning and raindrops before it bursts open as it attains mock-dramatic fury," according to one set of notes.
The Rossini Quartet consists of four Polish musicians whose credits are mostly European. Krzysztof Penderecki, the Polish composer/conductor who has served as music director of the Casals Festival for the last eight years, will conduct the ensemble.
First violinist Konstanty Kulka has performed as soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, London Symphony, Leningrad Philharmonic and Royal Concertgebouw Amsterdam. He is a leading interpreter of Penderecki's Violin Concerto, with many performances under the maestro himself. Second violinist Piotr Plawner has performed throughout the stages of Western and Eastern Europe. Cellist Rafal Kwiatkowski won the Young Concert Artists European competition in 1998 and advanced to the World Finals of the Young Concert Artists competition in New York last year. Double bassist Andrzej Mysinski is music director of Warsaw's Concerto Avenna, a group of soloists specializing in Baroque music.
While Kulka and Mysinski, like Penderecki, are seasoned veterans, Plawner and Kwiatkowski are a couple of 20-something up-and-coming achievers who would have fit right into Rossini's circle of associates.
Wednesday's performance begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25, with seating in the covered section only. The Reichhold itself is the only ticket outlet, but you can make charge-card purchases by telephoning the box office at 693-1559. A fair amount of tickets were still available Tuesday noon. But if you should delay deciding to go until the covered section is sold out, you can still make a bid for access to the open-air seats just behind.

Firefighters acted quickly Tuesday morning to put out a blaze started in a classroom and storage area at the back of the Charlotte Amalie High School campus.
The fire, which was first noticed about 10 a.m, was nothing more than a smoldering pile of football equipment by 10:45 a.m.
Charlie Davis, a health teacher whose classroom was next door to the area where the fire was started, said his first awareness of the fire came when he smelled smoke. His building is in an isolated area of the campus.
"It is easy for anybody – a student or anybody – to come and go from the area without being seen," Davis said.
According to a police source, one suspect has already been picked up in the apparent arson.
Physical education teacher Arthur Solomon speculated that someone could have thrown a lighted piece of paper or a "cocktail bomb" through a hole in the door where a lock had been removed.
Solomon said the scorched area was being used to store "brand new" football equipment.
Assistant Fire Chief Glenn Francis said a "tanker" and two "pumpers" were dispatched to the school. About a dozen firemen were at the scene, some wearing kerchiefs across their faces to block the thick smoke emanating from burning plastic.
Davis said he had spent part of the morning moving items from his classroom in preparation for school ending this week.

Future Vacations/Florida Marlins Offer Agents Chance to Throw First Pitch and Win Trip
Future Vacations is partnering with the Florida Marlins Major League Baseball team and three USVI hotels to encourage travel agents to "play ball" with them on bookings to St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John this summer. The Future Vacations/Florida Marlins 1st Pitch Promotion will award the travel agent making the most Future Vacations package bookings to any of three participating USVI hotels with the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Florida Marlins game in September 2000. The winning agent will also receive a four-day/three-night air-inclusive vacation package for two to the USVI and a bag of tourism goodies from the USVI Department of Tourism. Eligible bookings must be made by August 31 for travel to be completed by December 15, 2000. Hotel accommodations must be made at the Carambola Beach Resort on St. Croix, the Westin Resort, St. John, or the Holiday Inn on St. Thomas. For more information, call (800) 456-2323.
Secret Harbour Offers "Stay 5 Nights, Pay for 4" and "Values in Paradise" Packages
Now through December 21, 2000, Secret Harbour Beach Resort & Villas is offering the "Stay 5 Nights, Pay for 4" package. Featuring a free room night at already reduced summer prices, the package includes accommodations in a one-bedroom suite with terrace or patio, unlimited tennis and fitness center use, beach and pool lounges, weekly Manager's Welcome Rum Punch Party and complimentary gifts upon arrival. The "Values in Paradise" packages are available for all of the resort's accommodations starting at $179 per night for a one-bedroom garden suite and $219 for a one-bedroom beachfront suite. For more information about these packages, call (800) 524-2250 or (340) 775-6550. Visit the resort's Web site at www.wt-thomas/shb.vi
USVI Home to the Best Sportfishing in the World
The United States Virgin Islands is home to the best sportfishing in the world. The USVI will host the 28th Annual USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament off the waters of St. Thomas August 11-16, in addition to several other world-class tournaments that will take place this summer. The territory's gamefishing tournament season officially kicks-off during the June Moon Big Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament, June 14-17. The 37th Annual July Open, held July 13-17, is one of the oldest and most prestigious sportfishing tournaments in the world. The Northside Sportfishing Club will host its Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament at Hull Bay off St. Thomas on July 16. More information about the USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament is available by calling 888-2FISHVI (347484) or (340) 775-9500. For more information about the June Moon Big Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament and the 37th annual July Open, call the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club at (340) 775-9144. More details about the Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament are available by calling (340) 774-6827.
New Café Opens on St. Thomas
Visitors wanting local West Indian cuisine and lighter eclectic fare should visit the Pave Street Café. Breakfast menu offerings range from peach Melba-brandied waffles covered in whipped cream and raspberry sauce to biscuits and gravy. Light salads, sandwiches, soups and more are offered during lunch. Espresso and cappuccino can be enjoyed all day long. The café is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (340) 774-2340.
Sapphire Beach Resort Offers "Dive the Deep Blue" Package
The Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina on St. Thomas has designed a value-added package for travelers who like to dive. Available now through September 30, 2000, the adventurous "Dive the Deep Blue" package includes six exciting dives in the island's surrounding crystal-clear waters. Prices for the three-night package begin at $831 for single occupancy and $1,034 for double occupancy. Rates for the seven-night package start at $1,627 for single occupancy and $1,834 for double occupancy. For more details or reservations, call (800) 524-2090 or (340) 775-6100.
Bolongo Bay Offers Summer All-Inclusive Special and Introduces "Date Night" for Parents
Bolongo Bay Beach Club & Villas on St. Thomas is now offering the Summer All-Inclusive Special. This summer the resort's all-inclusive plan is priced at $299 per couple, per room, per night (compared with the normal summertime rate of $380). The Summer All-Inclusive Special is valid on all run-of-house bookings made now through June 15, 2000 for travel June 1-October 31, 2000. In the interest of adding a little romance to family vacations, the resort is pleased to offer parents a fun-filled "Date Night." Through this program, parents can spend a night on the town together and Bolongo Bay will arrange for the children to stay with a licensed childcare professional free-of-charge. Bolongo Bay offers the "Date Night" babysitting services complimentary to all couples staying a minimum of seven nights on any of the resort's three vacation options-the European Plan, the Continental Plan and the all-inclusive program. The promotion is valid on bookings for travel June 1 through September 30, 2000. Bolongo Bay uses "Nannies in Paradise," a company comprised of licensed childcare professionals including school teachers, to care for the children while the parents enjoy a night on their own. More details about these offers are available by calling (340) 775-1800 or (800) 524-4746. Visit the resort on the Internet at www.bolongo.com.
St. John Ecotourism Resort Offers Vacation Values for Families
St. John's world-famous ecotourism resort Maho Bay Camps is offering vacation values for families. Now through November 15, 2000, children 16 years of age and under stay free at Maho Bay Camps when accompanied by adults. At the regular off-season rate of $70 per night, a family of four can share accommodations for under $20 each. For reservations, call Maho Bay Camps at (800) 392-9004. Visit the resort on the Internet at www.mahobay.com
Explore Magens Bay on Guided Snorkeling and Kayak Tours
Starting this fall, Virgin Island Ecotours will offer its eco-friendly, two-and-a-half-hour guided kayak and snorkel tour at St. Thomas' Magens Bay. Led by experienced naturalists who are knowledgeable about the island's natural history, the kayak tours are a first-hand, fun and educational experience for visitors. VI Ecotours currently provides these exciting, soft-adventure tours through St. Thomas' Marine Sanctuary and Mangrove Lagoon where participants can view snowy egrets, great barracudas, dwarf herrings, spotted eagle rays, jellyfish, mangrove crabs and other marine life. Cruise Ship Excursions is the exclusive tour provider for this activity. For more details or reservations, call Virgin Islands Ecotours at (340) 779-2155 or Cruise Ship Excursions at (340) 775-5055.

Future Vacations/Florida Marlins Offer Agents Chance to Throw First Pitch and Win Trip
Future Vacations is partnering with the Florida Marlins Major League Baseball team and three USVI hotels to encourage travel agents to "play ball" with them on bookings to St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John this summer. The Future Vacations/Florida Marlins 1st Pitch Promotion will award the travel agent making the most Future Vacations package bookings to any of three participating USVI hotels with the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at a Florida Marlins game in September 2000. The winning agent will also receive a four-day/three-night air-inclusive vacation package for two to the USVI and a bag of tourism goodies from the USVI Department of Tourism. Eligible bookings must be made by August 31 for travel to be completed by December 15, 2000. Hotel accommodations must be made at the Carambola Beach Resort on St. Croix, the Westin Resort, St. John, or the Holiday Inn on St. Thomas. For more information, call (800) 456-2323.
Secret Harbour Offers "Stay 5 Nights, Pay for 4" and "Values in Paradise" Packages
Now through December 21, 2000, Secret Harbour Beach Resort & Villas is offering the "Stay 5 Nights, Pay for 4" package. Featuring a free room night at already reduced summer prices, the package includes accommodations in a one-bedroom suite with terrace or patio, unlimited tennis and fitness center use, beach and pool lounges, weekly Manager's Welcome Rum Punch Party and complimentary gifts upon arrival. The "Values in Paradise" packages are available for all of the resort's accommodations starting at $179 per night for a one-bedroom garden suite and $219 for a one-bedroom beachfront suite. For more information about these packages, call (800) 524-2250 or (340) 775-6550. Visit the resort's Web site at www.wt-thomas/shb.vi
USVI Home to the Best Sportfishing in the World
The United States Virgin Islands is home to the best sportfishing in the world. The USVI will host the 28th Annual USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament off the waters of St. Thomas August 11-16, in addition to several other world-class tournaments that will take place this summer. The territory's gamefishing tournament season officially kicks-off during the June Moon Big Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament, June 14-17. The 37th Annual July Open, held July 13-17, is one of the oldest and most prestigious sportfishing tournaments in the world. The Northside Sportfishing Club will host its Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament at Hull Bay off St. Thomas on July 16. More information about the USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament is available by calling 888-2FISHVI (347484) or (340) 775-9500. For more information about the June Moon Big Blue Marlin Fishing Tournament and the 37th annual July Open, call the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club at (340) 775-9144. More details about the Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament are available by calling (340) 774-6827.
New Café Opens on St. Thomas
Visitors wanting local West Indian cuisine and lighter eclectic fare should visit the Head of Pave Street Café. Breakfast menu offerings range from peach Melba-brandied waffles covered in whipped cream and raspberry sauce to biscuits and gravy. Light salads, sandwiches, soups and more are offered during lunch. Espresso and cappuccino can be enjoyed all day long. The café is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call (340) 774-2340.
Sapphire Beach Resort Offers "Dive the Deep Blue" Package
The Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina on St. Thomas has designed a value-added package for travelers who like to dive. Available now through September 30, 2000, the adventurous "Dive the Deep Blue" package includes six exciting dives in the island's surrounding crystal-clear waters. Prices for the three-night package begin at $831 for single occupancy and $1,034 for double occupancy. Rates for the seven-night package start at $1,627 for single occupancy and $1,834 for double occupancy. For more details or reservations, call (800) 524-2090 or (340) 775-6100.
Bolongo Bay Offers Summer All-Inclusive Special and Introduces "Date Night" for Parents
Bolongo Bay Beach Club & Villas on St. Thomas is now offering the Summer All-Inclusive Special. This summer the resort's all-inclusive plan is priced at $299 per couple, per room, per night (compared with the normal summertime rate of $380). The Summer All-Inclusive Special is valid on all run-of-house bookings made now through June 15, 2000 for travel June 1-October 31, 2000. In the interest of adding a little romance to family vacations, the resort is pleased to offer parents a fun-filled "Date Night." Through this program, parents can spend a night on the town together and Bolongo Bay will arrange for the children to stay with a licensed childcare professional free-of-charge. Bolongo Bay offers the "Date Night" babysitting services complimentary to all couples staying a minimum of seven nights on any of the resort's three vacation options-the European Plan, the Continental Plan and the all-inclusive program. The promotion is valid on bookings for travel June 1 through September 30, 2000. Bolongo Bay uses "Nannies in Paradise," a company comprised of licensed childcare professionals including school teachers, to care for the children while the parents enjoy a night on their own. More details about these offers are available by calling (340) 775-1800 or (800) 524-4746. Visit the resort on the Internet at www.bolongo.com.
St. John Ecotourism Resort Offers Vacation Values for Families
St. John's world-famous ecotourism resort Maho Bay Camps is offering vacation values for families. Now through November 15, 2000, children 16 years of age and under stay free at Maho Bay Camps when accompanied by adults. At the regular off-season rate of $70 per night, a family of four can share accommodations for under $20 each. For reservations, call Maho Bay Camps at (800) 392-9004. Visit the resort on the Internet at www.mahobay.com
Explore Magens Bay on Guided Snorkeling and Kayak Tours
Starting this fall, Virgin Island Ecotours will offer its eco-friendly, two-and-a-half-hour guided kayak and snorkel tour at St. Thomas' Magens Bay. Led by experienced naturalists who are knowledgeable about the island's natural history, the kayak tours are a first-hand, fun and educational experience for visitors. VI Ecotours currently provides these exciting, soft-adventure tours through St. Thomas' Marine Sanctuary and Mangrove Lagoon where participants can view snowy egrets, great barracudas, dwarf herrings, spotted eagle rays, jellyfish, mangrove crabs and other marine life. Cruise Ship Excursions is the exclusive tour provider for this activity. For more details or reservations, call Virgin Islands Ecotours at (340) 779-2155 or Cruise Ship Excursions at (340) 775-5055.

St. Thomas businessman Neil Weiss has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Industrial Development Commission, citing health reasons.
Weiss said Monday night that he recently returned from Florida, where he learned he is probably facing major back surgery and would thus be unable to devote the necessary time to the IDC.
"It's an old war injury that's finally caught up with me," he said.
Weiss said he notified both Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, who nominated him to the commission, and staff on the Senate Rules Committee of his withdrawal from consideration "about four days ago." He said he was surprised that there has been no announcement yet. The published Senate calendar for this week lists his nomination hearing before Rules on Thursday.
The commission has been unable to act for months because it lacks a quorum. In February, Turnbull nominated Weiss, Malcolm Plaskett, Mary Ann Pickard and Randolf Allen to fill vacant spots on the seven-member board. Two members serve by virtue of their Cabinet posts — the Internal Revenue Bureau director and the Tourism commissioner.
IDC executive director Frandelle Gerard announced last fall that she was cracking down on IDC beneficiaries that do not meet the terms of their agreements with the government. But very little has happened in that effort because, she has said, the commission is unable to hold hearings on alleged delinquencies.
While he is unable to serve on the IDC, Weiss shared his thoughts on how to increase industrial incentives and lure more business to the territory. He said he has already presented his plan to several senators.
In essence, he proposes opening St. Thomas to casino gambling, taxing the proceeds therefrom, and using the money to encourage investors to build on St. Croix.
The first step in the process would be to have a referendum on gambling on St. Thomas. Island voters have said no to casinos several times in the past, including the most recent vote which opened the door to gaming on St. Croix. Weiss believes the result now would be different.
He also believes existing large St. Thomas hotels can convert to gaming within six months, and suggests the government designate four of them to do it.
The hotels with casinos would then pay a higher room tax than those without — 10 percent, rather than 8 percent — and the revenue from the additional 2 percent would go into an Industrial Development Bank specifically for St. Croix. The hotels also would pay into that bank 2 percent of the net profits from their slot machines and a $5 cover charge assessed casino patrons who are not hotel guests.
Also going into the bank would be a $1 per passenger head tax on cruise ship passengers and a "prosperity tax" of 10 cents per gallon on gasoline.
Weiss estimates these taxes and fees would generate at least $6 million a year. That money could be used to make loans on generous terms to investors ready to plunk down $100 million to $150 million in investments on St. Croix. He's suggesting loans of up to 25 percent of the investment at an interest rate of 2.5 percent for 15 years.
The proposal has gotten a cool reception so far, he indicated.